Series Sunday: The Assassin's Blade

(Throne of Glass #0.5) 

Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

• Read an installment of a series.
• Share your review/recommendation below.
• Include the title, author and series name.

"You'll make choices you think are right, and then suffer for them." ~ pg. 109

My Series Sunday pick is The Assassin's Blade, the prequel to Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas. This collection of five novellas is an introduction to the main character and deeper history of her deadly world. Celaena Sardothien is the most feared, best assassin on the continent. When her scheming master, Arobynn, dispatches her on missions that take her from remote islands to the desert, she finds herself questioning his motives and acting independently. Defying orders is a dangerous game. She trusts only her fellow killer-for-hire, Sam. Together they risk their lives for a chance at freedom.

I am uber late to the SJM universe party. I absolutely adored ACOTAR so immediately began reading The Assassin's Blade since Throne of Glass is the next series per the recommended reading order. I don't know whether it is because I spent the last two months fully immersed in the ACOTAR world or because I am not a fan of short stories, but this was a buzzkill. Yeah, I said it.

"Why do you assume anyone sent me? Can't a girl be independent?" ~ pg. 305

The Assassin's Blade started off strong. A female assassin. How badass of you, SJM! CiCi has beauty, brains, attitude and an ego. She talks big shit but can back it up. A really strong character. But by the third story, I was bored. It became predictable. Quite annoying after a while. CiCi, how are you the best but keep falling for the okey doke? I found myself rolling my eyes so I put the Kindle down for days. When I resumed reading, it was only during commercials while I watched TV. 

Many reviews claim Throne of Glass is even better than A Court of Thorns and Roses series. I also committed to buddy reading so will not let this prequel deter me. Fingers crossed it gets better because right now I am half-interested, at best.

Title: The Assassin's Blade

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Published: March 2014

Pages: 463

Edition: eBook

Genre: Romantasy

Rating: 🖤 🖤

First Lines Friday

First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

• Grab your current read(s).
• Share the first line(s).
• Include the title and author.

"I am desperately, painfully, completely, and stupidly in love."

~ The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden

Da Baddest

"I had a deep desire to be a powerful, independent woman who could stand on her own and have the finest things in life. That was my definition of a bad bitch." ~ 21% 

Katrina "Trina" Taylor is an award-winning, platinum-selling rapper, songwriter and television personality. In this new memoir titled Da Baddest, she honestly shares her story of coming-of-age in Miami, close relationship with her mom, unplanned rise to stardom and legacy as an icon. She spills her raw feelings on the pages when talking about loss and celebrates her wins with readers. 

I grew up with Trina on the radio. Lyrics were raw! Yet she always maintained class, grace and sophistication. She is a feminist, rooting for and supporting women in the industry. Trina is a true girl's girl. She blazed a powerful path in hip-hop, as mentioned in the introduction by Missy Elliott.

"My character and my mind are just as sharp as my curves." ~ 60% 

Even though Trina opened her heart and life more than usual in this book, I still got the sense she was holding back. It gives just a glimpse of the Diamond Princess behind the provocative music. The woman still remains a mystery and prefers a private happier life, which I respect. Instead, this new release lets us know how and why Trina is "da baddest" on a surface level. Whether you are already a fan or just love memoirs, Da Baddest is a good read. Just don't expect a tell-all! 

Happy Pub Day, Trina! Da Baddest is now available.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

Title: Da Baddest
Author: Katrina "Trina" Taylor with Sesali Bowen
Published: October 2024
Pages: 182
Edition: Galley
Genre: Memoir
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤

Super Series Sunday: Double Mocha Blues / A Latte Mayhem

(Joss Miller Mystery 1 & 2) 

Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

• Read an installment of a series.
• Share your review/recommendation below.
• Include the title, author and series name.

"You know this podcast aims to shed light on forgotten stories and seek justice for the victims." ~ 24%

My Super Series Sunday pick is Double Mocha Blues, the first book in the Joss Miller mystery series by Tyora Moody. New cozy mystery of color, yes please! Joss Miller is a twenty-something barista who works at Sugar Creek Café, a hip coffeehouse. 

Her recently launched true crime podcast is quite popular and has Joss finally feeling like she's found her purpose. With her family's blessing, she dedicates the new podcast season to her grandfather. What was intended to be a step toward healing turns into a firestorm of reactions in the community. There are some people who would rather forget how Joss's grandfather had been murdered. The loudest protester is found dead and none other than Joss herself is the main suspect.

I was first introduced to the Sugar Creek neighborhood in another of Tyora Moody's series. Joss Miller was mentioned in passing and I like the small fictional community so downloaded this series too. What a treat! Not only does it feature a young Black chick but she is also a podcaster! The bits of history gave depth to a couple minor characters and made Joss even more endearing.

"Someone knows something." ~ 66%

In the second book, A Latte Mayhem, Joss Miller returns for a second season of the Cold Justice podcast. The subject is a local artist and activist named Rebecca Montgomery who went missing three years ago. As she pieces together the puzzle and interviews several residents, it becomes clear that someone wants to keep the truth buried. 

A little romance is thrown into the mix now that Joss is six months into dating Detective Andre Baez. Of course, her amateur sleuth behavior could jeopardize their relationship and her own safety.

Another good easy read! A Latte Mayhem is the kind of book you cuddle up with on a chilly weekend with a hot cup of coffee or cocoa. The mystery may be easy to solve but it's nice reading how it plays out to a satisfying ending. I am definitely looking forward to book #3 set to release late November.

Title: Double Mocha Blues

Author: Tyora Moody

Published: November 2023

Pages: 309

Edition: eBook

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

Title: A Latte Mayhem

Author: Tyora Moody

Published: July 2024

Pages: 211

Edition: eBook

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

First Lines Friday

First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

• Grab your current read(s).
• Share the first line(s).
• Include the title and author.

"There was nothing left in the world except sand and wind."

~ The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas

What Does It Feel Like

"For Eve, the story begins when she was already in hospital. That's her first memory of this whole roller coaster: waking up in a hospital bed and not knowing what was going on and being told she was going to have a scan of her brain." ~ 84% 

Sophie Kinsella is synonymous with fun, frills, chick lit and humor. I have been a fan of her Shopaholic series and standalone novels for umpteen years. Her email newsletters are cheerful. Her stories are lighthearted yet with substance. So to read and review What Does It Feel Like? is a bit different.

This new novel is about a renowned author facing a devastating diagnosis. While it is fiction, it is Sophie Kinsella's most autobiographical work to date. This is true chick lit; heartbreakingly personal in less than 150 pages. Eve's story is her story and reminds me of my story. 

"If you buy the dress, the occasion will come." ~ 15% 

Eve is a successful novelist that who wakes up in a hospital bed with no recollection of how she got there. Her husband explains that she had brain surgery to remove a large, malignant tumor. As Eve learns to walk, talk and write again, she recalls what is most important to her in brief anecdotes that will make you laugh, cry and reflect.

What Does It Feel Like? is a story of courage, strength, grief and a celebration of life. I am thankful for Sophie Kinsella's transparency. I hope it was just as therapeutic writing her story as it was for me to read it. She is a forever fave!

I recommend this new release to other Sophie Kinsella fans, those with a chronic illness and their loved ones. It may help you better understand their point of view or find comfort in knowing you are not alone. It's the book you didn't know you needed to read.

Happy Early Pub Day, Sophie Kinsella! What Does It Feel Like? will be available Tuesday, October 8.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

Title: What Does It Feel Like?
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Published: October 2024
Pages: 144
Edition: Galley
Genre: True Chick Lit
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

Series Sunday: Love After Midnight

(The Coldest Winter Ever #3) 

Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

• Read an installment of a series.
• Share your review/recommendation below.
• Include the title, author and series name.

My Series Sunday pick is Love After Midnight, the third book in The Coldest Winter Ever series by Sister Souljah. There was a time when Winter Santiaga was that bitch. Allow me to re-introduce this classic character. Winter was the oldest daughter of a Brooklyn drug kingpen. Reigning hood loyalty until everything fell apart. Fast forward fifteen years and Winter was released from prison, only to be shot and sent to hell in the sequel, Life After Death. (A book that I DNF'ed with no regrets.) 

In this third installment titled Love After Midnight, Winter is brought back to life with a mission to find out who shot her while trying to capitalize on newfound fame as the star of a reality TV show and creator of legitimate businesses.

"Fame is a hard life." ~ 68%

I expected Love After Midnight to be a redemption novel. It started off better than the sequel but quickly became hard to follow, disjointed and confusing. There are no smooth transitions between chapters. New characters are introduced but not fully developed (or truly named). Winter's narcissistic antics and shallow behavior is almost comical. I don't even know what genre to categorize this book. The best I can describe it is urban fiction with themes of fame, revenge and relationships.

I can no longer try to figure out Sister Souljah's purpose for this series. Is it to prove that fame comes at a cost? To point out the difference between heaven and hell on Earth? To jumble readers' brains? Love After Midnight is written like Sister Souljah wrote random dialogue and narrative on index cards, shuffled them and transcribed to paper with no clear direction. The ending even seems out of place and incomplete, not in a traditional cliffhanger kind of way.

"I knew that none of this fits my personality, or my way." ~ 96%

This review feels very much like a break-up. Very "it's not you; it's me." The whole time I was reading Love After Midnight, I was thinking that I'm no longer interested in Winter's shenanigans, ghetto princess behavior, hood friends and nonsensical actions. Girl, grow up! Evolve. Learn. Listen. Mature. I want to see Winter win but it's time I hop off this journey. This series is no longer for me.

Happy Early Pub Day, Sister Souljah! Love After Midnight will be available Tuesday, October 8.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

Title: Love After Midnight

Author: Sister Souljah

Published: October 2024

Pages: 429

Edition: Galley

Genre: Urban Fiction

Rating: 🖤